Shayne Gostisbehere clears waivers
Photo by Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports
It’s been 24 hours since the Philadelphia Flyers waived Shayne Gostisbehere, but he’s staying put for now as he has cleared waivers. He will likely be placed on the club’s taxi squad for now, which, according to PuckPedia.com, will free up $1.075 million in cap space for the Flyers.
On Tuesday Gostisbehere was waived by the Flyers, to just about everyone’s surprise.
If Gostisbehere was claimed, the Flyers would have gained $4.5 million in cap space ahead of the April 12 trade deadline.
“If Shayne clears waivers, then he goes on the taxi squad and we’ll have more flexibility as far as the 23-man roster,” Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault said Tuesday. “He can still be on the 23-man roster and play. It was just a matter of having a little bit more flexibility.”
General manager Chuck Fletcher could have some moves in the works. He at least as a little more cap space to work with now for potential additions.
Gostisbehere, who is under contract for the next two seasons, has looked more like himself offensively through 25 games (five goals, six assists) after experiencing a tough 2019-20 season with knee injuries. Gostisbehere was selected by the Flyers in the third round of the 2012 draft. He stormed onto the scene in 2015-16 when he scored 17 goals as a rookie and put up a 15-game point streak, the longest ever by a Flyers rookie and first-year NHL defenseman. He delivered 65 points (13 goals, 52 assists) in 2017-18, the fourth most among NHL defensemen that season.
His Flyers career will continue for now. Gostisbehere practiced with the club Tuesday. The Flyers face the Buffalo Sabres Wednesday.
